I went on birth control when I was 14.

[lightningandsnow]

I had severe, painful cystic acne, which in addition to destroying my self esteem, was physically hurting my face.

I also had severe, disabling menstrual cramps, and very heavy periods. (I still have this issue to some extent, but birth control made it a lot better.)

Not every teenager on birth control is sexually active. And even those that are, well, wouldn't you rather they not end up with a child that they are not emotionally or financially equipped to parent?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Good for you, my dear lightningandsnow...

:hug:

I could not agree more...

[seabeyond]

2. true and true. i dont think you will get an argument from anyone on du. nt

[LynneSin]

3. My best friend was on birth control when she was 12 - something about helping reduce cysts

Had absolutely nothing to do with sex whatsoever.

[Barack_America]

4. I'm not sure problems like that are addressed at birth control clinics...

....or that they should be.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. That may be.

But she didn't say the birth control was obtained at a birth control clinic. She could have gotten it from her own MD.

[Barack_America]

7. I was assuming this was a continuation of yesterday's topic...

...regarding the non-profit transporting girls from school to clinics for birth control.

[tammywammy]

9. You don't think doctors at places like Planned Parenthood couldn't diagnose cysts

or heavy painful periods and give a script for birth control?

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I want on birth control pills when I was 31

And I didn't take them for birth control, either. I had severe periods and cramping and my then-gynecologist who prescribed them said they would help. I didn't question it because I had a good friend in college who took them for the same reason and she said this made a huge difference for her.

But it had the opposite effect on me. After four years, the same doctor discovered that it had caused fibroid tumors to grow, since they're hormone fed. I stopped the pills immediately, but the damage was done. I had excruciating pain and hemorrhaging, was so anemic that I had trouble functioning, passed out on a regular basis. I went to Mass General in Boston to find a doctor who didn't just recommend a hysterectomy.

I had three surgeries in seven years, since the first two, to remove the fibroids, didn't work. They grew back. I managed to avoid a hysterectomy, but I don't know if I knew what I was in for, if I could do it again. I'm fine now, have been since 2000, but I wouldn't wish what I went through on anybody else. Birth control pills aren't for everybody... :(

[lightningandsnow]

8. That sucks!

As with any drug, they're certainly not for everyone.

Often, women's health issues aren't taken seriously. :(

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Thank you... and I know.

My grandmother was very worried about me, kept saying that I should "tell that nice nurse in Boston to remove my female organs." LOL. She was actually talking about my surgeon, great doctor, who was a woman... ;)

I also had acupuncture, anything to avoid surgery, which helped, but only temporarily, didn't cure me. It was actually my acupuncture doctor, who believed in natural remedies, who advocated surgery. I had acupuncture after surgery to help me heal, and that did make a difference... :)

And I learned in college that women's health issues aren't as well understood, since most of the studies were done on men. :(

[cbdo2007]

10. what's the point?

No offense, I'm just wondering where this is coming from or in response to.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. Here you go: It's a continuation (I think) of this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9416957

[Withywindle]

12. I went on it at 17.

Endometriosis. Recommended and prescribed by a doctor for that purpose. It helped a great deal - I stuck with it until I passed 30 and it was no longer recommended.



As it happens, I was already sexually active, but I'd been using condoms and spermicide. I still stuck with the condoms even when I was on the Pill for disease reasons, so I was super-extra-safe from pregnancy.

I'm very fortunate that my parents weren't superstitious about it. Not all kids are so lucky. I still think even the unlucky kids have a right to the treatments that will help them most.

[southmost]

14. thanks for sharing

My daughter asked to be put on birth control a couple of months ago at age 15.

Initially I got worried and upset, so she asked for my trust in her.
In time, I got over my apprehensions, and I cautioned her about using additional protection for stds.

I learned to respect her choices, and support her the best that I can.

[no_hypocrisy]

15. I too had cystic acne. I would've done the same thing.

Instead back in the Seventies I had to be subjected to painful injections into the cysts on my face. Nothing else could be done, save for even more painful surgery to remove the contents of the cysts.

I would've gone on birth control in a heart beat at age 14 too.